Fruit-Crops.com

was developed as an online aid to the class 'Introduction to Fruit Crops' (HORT 3020) at UGA. The material is from the book that I wrote for HORT 3020 ('Introduction to Fruit Crops'), a book still used in the class today, and it is reliable as a reference for any internet-based or traditional college class.

Here you will find fruit horticulture and agriculture tips for an online hort degree program for distance learning but you don't need to be a horticulture major or even working on a bachelor's or Master's degree to use the site.

Over the years I have enjoyed hearing from students, teachers, professors, government officials, farmers, crop industry experts and others from all over the world about fruit crops. If you have a question or comment please do not hesitate to contact me.

Also, please feel free to cite this information without permission for non-commercial purposes.

Thanks for visiting,
Mark

About Mark:

On August 1, 2012, Mark Rieger took office as dean of the University of Delaware's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Rieger served as associate dean and professor in the University of Florida's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences since 2006 and was interim dean in 2010-11. As associate dean, Rieger had major responsibilities in graduate programs, distance education, statewide degree completion programs, the honors program and international education.

Prior to joining the University of Florida faculty, he was a professor in the University of Georgia's Department of Horticulture from 1999-2006. He joined the University of Georgia faculty as an assistant professor in 1987 and was promoted to associate professor in 1993 and professor in 1999.

Rieger received a bachelor's degree in horticulture in 1982 from the Pennsylvania State University, a master's degree in horticulture in 1984 from the University of Georgia and a doctorate in horticultural sciences in 1987 from the University of Florida.

Fig – Ficus carica L.

FIG TREE TAXONOMY

The cultivated fig tree, Ficus carica L., is a member of the Moraceae (mulberry family). Other important fruit-bearing trees include the mulberries (Morus spp.), Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis Fosb.), Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.), and several tropical Ficus species produce edible fruit for local consumption and wildlife. Other Ficus species of importance – F. elastica (“rubber plant”) and F. benjamina (Ficus tree or weeping fig); important indoor foliage plants; the latter is used as a hedge or landscape tree in tropical areas.

4 types of cultivars:

1. Caprifig. “Male”, but actually bears both staminate and pistillate flowers. Inedible; used to pollinate Smyrna and San Pedro types; grown outside the orchard, picked prior to wasp emergence, and hung in baskets in trees.

2. Smyrna fig. Requires pollination for fruit set, but wasp does not oviposit in fruit, styles too long. One main crop/yr, the “second” crop; first crop is very light, only a few fruits/tree. ‘Calimyrna’ is the only Smyrna cultivar grown in California, and is the most widely produced cultivar.

3. Common fig. Parthenocarpic; first crop borne on 1-yr-old wood, second crop borne on current season’s growth. Most commercial cultivars are found in this group: ‘Mission’, ‘Kadota’ (syn. ‘Dottato’), ‘Magnolia’ (syn. ‘Brunswick’), ‘Brown Turkey’, ‘Celeste’

ORIGIN OF FIG TREES (FICUS CARICA L), HISTORY OF CULTIVATION

The fig tree is native to western Asia, and has been cultivated for thousands of years in Mediterranean countries of Europe and North Africa. Fig trees were introduced to England and Mexico in the 1500′s, then the Eastern US in 1669, and to California in 1881. Common figs were cultivated successfully throughout the Gulf states and California, but the Smyrna fig did not fruit until it was realized that a tiny wasp was needed for pollination, which was not native to California. The wasp (Blastophaga psenes) was introduced in 1900.

Folklore, medicinal properties, non-food usage

Fig latex may cause photodermatitis – a sunburn rash develops when contacted portion of skin is exposed to UV light. Photosensitizing compounds related to forocoumarin may be the active principals.
B. Figs have gotten a bad wrap in the bible. In the book of John, a hungry Jesus smited the fig tree he came upon in the desert for having no fruit by placing a curse on it; the disciples were “sore amazed”. I find this unusual since figs can easily produce 2 crops/year, and it is less likely to come upon a fig without ripe fruit than most other species that produce only 1 crop/year. Perhaps, knowing this, Jesus was all the more disgusted with the fig tree. In Genesis, a fig leaf was used to cover private areas after Eve ate the apple, causing them to become aware of their nudity. Figs are depicted in many paintings of biblical scenes.

Flowers: Borne in inverted inflorescences in axils of leaves on 1-yr wood (first crop) and current season’s wood as well (second crop). In cultivated “Common” figs, all flowers are female, packed along the inside of the inflorescence, consisting basically of an ovary and a single style.
Pollination: The fig wasp provides pollination of Smyrna figs, but common figs are parthenocarpic and need no pollination.
Fruit: a “syconium” (multiple of druplets) – an inverted inflorescence with swollen receptacle. The true fruits are small druplets which line the inner surface of the syconium. The opening at the apex is an “ostiole”, through which fig wasp crawls to enter, lay eggs, and pollinate. Milky sap or latex often exudes from cuts in stems or when fruit are harvested.

GENERAL FIG TREE CULTURE

Fig trees are easily propagated by hardwood cuttings. Other methods include suckers, grafting, budding, and air layering, but since rooted cuttings are easiest to propagate, and come true-to-type from roots in the event of freezing, these other methods are unnecessary.

Trees are spaced 10-15 ft apart, trained to a low, sprawling “head” in California. Orchards come into full production in about 5 yr, bearing some fruit in the 2nd year often. Orchards remain productive for 15-20 yr, when fruiting declines, although trees may be long-lived.

Trees are very sensitive to frost when actively growing, but can withstand 10°F when dormant.

In humid areas, figs are prone to diseases such as rust (leaves) and souring of fruits (yeasts spread by insects, fermenting inside fruit). Rain at harvest time may cause skin cracking.
Contribution to diet, food uses

Figs can be eaten whole and raw, especially in humid climates, but are often peeled, eating the flesh and discarding the skin.

Processed figs are made into pies, pudding, cakes, other bakery products, jams, jellies and preserves. Fig paste is a mixture of figs, wheat and corn flour, whey, syrup, oils, and other ingredients, used in “Fig Newtons”.